Craig Harper (B.Ex.Sci.) is the #1 ranked Australian Motivational Speaker (according to Google). He is a qualified exercise scientist, author, columnist, radio presenter, television host, blogger and owner of one of the largest personal training centres in the world.

Craig provides hundreds of life lessons on his blog at Motivational Speaker blog. It should also be noted that Craig has a very unique writing and speaking style. Craig subscribes to the no BS form of expression, in which he holds nothing back, but tells it how it is. In his book Fattitude, Craig does not focus on the food, rather he teaches that creating a life-long change is more about the dieter, than the actual diet.

1. How do you define happiness?

For me happiness can be one of many emotional states (excitement, joy, euphoria) and can be stimulated by a range of varied stimuli (funny situations, helping someone, cheesecake, a great result, a good workout, a motorbike ride, being with loved ones, nature, music). But genuine, lasting happiness on a deeper level is (for me) more about inner contentment, peace and calm than it is about any of those short-lived ‘rock star’ emotions. Nothing can replace the feeling of complete peace and contentment.

2. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your happiness now, versus when you were a child?

Then 8. Now 8.

3. What do you do on a daily basis that brings you happiness? (and how consistent is the feeling of happiness throughout your day)

Invest time into others. Read. Write. Learn. Express myself creatively. Have lunch with two funny idiots every day. Laugh a lot. Generally my emotional state is somewhere between mildly content, falling down laughing and very excited.

4. What things take away from your happiness? What can be done to lessen their impact or remove them from your life?

Over the years I have learned to manage the negatives (stress, problems, challenges) much more effectively. Knowing that stress is an internal response to an external stimulus and learning that I can control the impact that situations, events, circumstances have on me was a breakthrough. Situations don’t create stress, we do.

5. What do you plan on doing in the future that will bring you even more happiness?

Learn from people who are smarter than me. Listen. Be less selfish.

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To get more info about what the Happiness Project is and isn’t, please visit the Introduction Post. To see a running list of all participants, which I will be updating as things happen, please visit the Happiness Project Page.

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